In the South Terminal Dock World Trade Center -nothing to do with the big quantity of Adossat– cruise passengers, a private chauffeur leaves walk from ‘Regent Seven Seas Explorer‘ two tourists with powerful aspect. Smile. Not for less. He confesses that throughout his career he had never taken such a juicy tip as he gave recently an American cruise passengers of the same company: 2,500 euros after take to a party in the south of France, at the expense of their free hours. The joy of billfold is typical of luxury cruiseships that dock in Barcelona, a market segment which is rarely discussed but moves million euros in the city. They are the most searched for hotels, tour operators and customer services. The ‘Explorer’, which has docked around the city Friday, blunts in the Champions League seaworthy. Opened last July by the princes of Monaco, it has emerged as the most luxurious cruise ship in the world.

The elite vacation at sea is not measured in size or number of attractions on board, but in service and emotions. Many giant supercruises from less than a thousand euros per week and Barcelona are frequent passenger-art, modern, full of restaurants and entertainment but popular and overcrowded and hyperactivity. The glamor on board, however, results in terms of space, top gastronomy, comfort and exclusivity.

They are usually small format, although the new vessel is medium in size but with the highest ratio of space per passenger in the world (other ships carrying 56,000 tons travelers even triple) and carries a crew member for every 1.3 passengers. A deployment to sweeten the lives of their 750 guests, who usually pay 4,000 to 5,000 euros per week, except for specific offers, account Carme Bigas, commercial director of Star Class-A world cruise, representative in Spain of this and most shipping high-end.

The visit of the new ship, which has other siblings who also flock to the city, is more than just one day. If in 2013, as reported by the newspaper, the port hosted 120 scales luxury categories (companies like Regent Seven Seas, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Crystal, Cunard, Seabourn Hapag-Lloyd or …) and -a degree below- Upper Premium or Premium (Azamara, Celebrity, Holland America, Oceania, Paul Gauguin, Princess and other …), this year the figure will rise to 191 scales. They moved more than 383,000 cruise passengers, as part of the more than 2.6 million passengers expected in the Catalan capital, sources said Port of Barcelona.

76 ELITIST SCALES

In the most elite segment will be 76 stopovers and 62,000 passengers. A ‘silent’ human flow because being smaller boats do not perceive their landings in the bustle of the port, and because most tours or hire private assistance. Some perform a scale of hours, others spend the night in the port, and often begin or end route in the city, which means customers spend several nights in the city. In the case of Regent, which is the only one with an integral whole with no added charges included (premium drinks, all especializades restaurants, gratuities, taxes, various excursions, fitness classes, culinary workshops, wifi all the way …) the package may include up to three nights of overnight stays, explains Gabriella Fonzo, director of Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

What do the luxury passengers calling at Barcelona? Friday, those of the ‘Explorer’ had free tours of 3 to 7.5 hours by Gòtic routes, jewelry Gaudi, local icons or bodegas Torres or Jean Leon. But there were also private options to go with the chef of the ship Santa Caterina market and the Boqueria, and finish devouring a menu of two Michelin stars in the Àbac restaurant.

On the way back, and heading to the scale of Ibiza (Saturday) or the Italian coast have time to soak in the infinity pool that looks out over the stern (apart from the solarium), to relax in their loungers-(with hood included), watch the sunset from the Observation lounge with a drink, consult the 24 hours library and video library, take cooking classes in his 18 seasons with stove practices, contemplate 2,500 artworks on board (also Picasso and Chagall), participate in an outdoor barbecue in a casual meal at the grill by the pool, get a massage (treatments are not included), do yoga, listening to live music in the Meridian Lounge, sing karaoke or loose on the dance floor of the Explorer Lounge, see their own theater productions or without further and possibly the best, contemplate the sea from the balcony of the suite (from 28 square meters), with the plus a stocked minibar and liquor one demande.

The good life on board luxury cruise has one of its magnets on the tablecloths. Here in international version (Compass Rose), or specialized French, meat or Asian cuisine with a VIP area for those staying at higher levels. Special mention millionaires guests palatial Regent Suite of 412 square meters, about 10,000 euros a day for two people, including up to the antidote of the extra kilos (personal trainer) and transfers. If you move the cabin …

Nearly 65,000 cruise passengers have made stops this weekend at the Port of Barcelona will mark and its record of the year. Between Friday and Sunday scale have made the city a total of 16 cruises. Specifically seven on Friday, four on Saturday and five Sunday.

In all cases it is tourist ships of great capacity, but Sunday was the day of the year a greater number of cruise passengers, more than 27.9000 concentrated. Sunday had three of the largest cruise ships in the world with lengths over 300 meters, Harmony of the Seas, Norwegian Epic, and Brittania.

During summer every Sunday, Barcelona will receive more than 20,000 cruise passengers, a figure that the first two Saturdays of August also exceeded. The day we receive more tourists cruise port in the Catalan capital will be Sunday, September 11, when it is expected the arrival of 28,110 passengers. Once you have spent the summer in October still high numbers of cruise passengers will remain.

The Port of Barcelona is Europe’s leading cruise tourism. More than two million passengers embarking or disembarking every year since the Barcelona terminal.

A total of 62 yachts from ten countries taking part in the 43rd Trophy Conde de Godosailing, organized by the Real Club Nautico de Barcelona (RCNB) and is held from today until next Sunday in Barcelona coastal waters.

The competition brings cruise ships different models grouped into three categories (0-1 ORC, ORC ORC 2 and 3-4) depending on their length and features and J80 monotypes,
who dispute their regattas in real time.

Godo Sailing is the first race of the peninsular schedule for ORC cruises and has established itself as an international event with the presence of teams from the United States, Peru, Chile, France, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Finland and Russia, and Spain.

The five teams that won the titles at stake in the last edition racecourse return to Barcelona to defend: the Rats on Fire of CN Arenys de Mar (ORC 0), the US Extreme Ways (ORC 2), the Air Ian Aermec Mallorca (ORC 3), the Limit of Badalona Sailing Club (ORC 4) and the Nautica Watches of CN Balís (J80). In addition, Pep Soldevila, owner of the team is Tes Unno, who won last year in ORC 1 this year will defend siren winner aboard the Swan 45 Coratge.

None have it easy because many rivals come with a remarkable shooting, as the Fyord-Maverta of Pedro Gil and Jose Luis Maldonado, competing for the RCN Torrevieja and arriving unbeaten this season with aspirations of improving the second-place finish last year in ORC 3. also the J80 class, which will have its own race course near the hotel W, promises the ultimate thrill, as the Godo Trophy comes to be the continuation of the championship of Spain held a few days ago in Barcelona, organized also by RCNB. The winner, HM Hotels, runner-up, Rascal Movistar, and the third, Nautica Watches, will meet again bows amid a fleet that meets sailboats fourteen absolutely equal. The races include a total of eight tests in ORC and nine in J80.

Rehabilitate the original work of the engineer Julio Valdes will cost 11 million and 21 months

The eclectic style building of the Portal de la Pau will host an information center

Port of Barcelona building

The imposing historic seat of the managing body of the port in the Portal de la Pau, now almost obsolete and deteriorated by the passage of time four years after the transfer of the offices of the Port Authority of Barcelona (APB) makes the nearby World Trade Center will return to the architectural and urban life. The APB approved yesterday tender the complete restoration of the building, and 1907 by the engineer of roads, canals and ports Julio Valdés, to become, according to another plan yet to be defined, a center of outreach port multipurpose spaces.

The building is included in the catalog of architectural heritage and rose in a bold and eclectic style genuine. The result was a harmonious allegedly also recharged and especially symmetric mixture of neo-Gothic elements, neorománics, neoclassical and even orientalists, reminiscent of the Central palaces.

Redevelopment

The restoration comes in competition with a significant initial cost of 11 million, according to the size of the property is 50 meters long and 20 wide. Equally remarkable it is the scheduled execution time 21 months since March 2016 when it is estimated that the plan will be awarded and will start the works. The project also includes redeveloping APB as a new public space the rear solar, located at the beginning of the Bosch i Alsina wharf or whip and used until now as parking.

The restoration will affect many elements of the facade and its ocher color, characteristic of many classical buildings. But especially it will act on the inside, to restore the 1907 distribution of a single floor and vault culminating with the main room.

This cover was removed by adding a second plant in the great reform of 1940, when after the war heavily damaged the property by repeated bombings against civilians and the own port of the Italian fascist aviation repaired supporting the Franco’s troops, which eventually took the capital in 1939.

The building of the Portal de la Pau opened in 1907 as the ferry terminal passenger liner ships. His customs and postal services on the ground floor and the World Palace Restaurant on the floor. Those functions were transferred in 1911 to the great International Maritime Estació located where today is the World Trade Center. Seven years later, in 1918, the building became definitely be the headquarters of the Board of Port d’Obres, infrastructure manager.